In August we took the rare opportunity to open our doors to Maggie ‘the wonder dog’ and her human companion Logan to help teach him to swim.
Logan, aged 5, has Sensory Processing Disorder and has been pre-diagnosed with Autism but that doesn’t hold him back from his swimming lessons with his teacher Helen Page at Energique Health Club in Alton.
Sensory Processing Disorder means Logan processes his senses differently. Sounds, bright lights, sensations etc can overwhelm him so he finds it difficult to hear and follow requests etc. He finds social situations difficult to understand.
Logan finds the sensation of water particularly calming and is progressing his swimming at each session however he was yet to confidently swim with his head lowered in the water.
Pip Elphee, Logan’s mother, is a Canine Behaviourist who has trained their working cocker spaniel, Maggie, as an assistance dog for Logan. Together with Logan’s swim teacher they devised a plan to encourage Logan to copy Maggie in the pool and approached the Canine Fitness Centre in Froxfield to help.
Tom Worman, Managing Director and Hydrotherapist at the Canine Fitness Centre said:
“Pip approached us with a brilliant plan and we just couldn’t say no. We’ve seen the impact of therapy dogs with a wide spectrum of children and adults through our work at the Canine Fitness Centre and this seemed like a great opportunity to put a theory into practice”
“We don’t normally let owners in the pool, but on this occasion working with Pip and Helen, we were able to create a safe environment for Logan and Maggie to swim together.”
“It was a joyous experience and something I couldn’t be prouder to have been part of”
Helen Page devised a variety of dynamic swimming games that logan could participate in with Maggie under the watchful eye of Tom Worman to ensure Maggie’s wellbeing and safety was also considered.
Logan and Maggie had swimming races, obstacle courses and a bit of safe play time in the shallows.
Not only did the session start some of the work towards improving Logan’s swimming style Mrs Elphee commented that:
“Logi found the latter stages of term really hard and has been quite ‘disregulated’, having had his swim with his dog this morning he also seems much calmer”
Shortly after the session Pip took to Facebook to write:
What a fantastic set up Tom has at the Canine Fitness Centre – a truly lovely way with both dog and owner. Maggie had a fare bit to deal with looking after her small person, working for me and being handled by Tom. But she clearly felt safe and happy in Tom’s capable hands. I can’t recommend this centre more highly!
Maggie, the working cocker spaniel, is an owner trained Autism Assistance Dog. Maggie helps him with his anxiety and confidence, helping him to stay calm and signalling to Logan’s mother when he is feeling anxious before she might have noticed. She is registered with Pawsable a company that assesses and then provides assistance with training and insurance for public access.
We get asked quite a lot why we have a hydrotherapy pool but don’t have a treadmill at our centre and there are a few simple reasons but as clients and veterinarians become more aware of underwater treadmills we thought it would be a good idea to discuss the benefits of both so that you can come to your own conclusions about what might be best for your dog.
The rise in popularity of treadmill appears to be primarily fed by two areas:
An increase in the amount of scientific research being undertaken in them
An increase in their availability for vets and therapists due to the smaller size they occupy
However, before diving into some more analysis there’s a couple of things we think you should know:
It is the therapist and their knowledge you need to benefit your dog not the equipment
Decisions around which piece of equipment is used should be based on the dogs behaviour
How therapists see hydrotherapy
A good therapist will understand the biomechanics of your dog. They will know that your dog is designed to move forwards not backwards, that movement is driven by a combination of muscle power and the proprioceptive system (both in a conscious and unconscious state). And, they will understand that it is their role in rehabilitation to provide movement enriching activity in an aquatic environment.
Historically, most people will think of hydrotherapy in two forms – swimming in a pool and walking in a treadmill. Over the last decade the understanding and scientific research in hydrotherapy has advanced considerably and this is no longer the way to think of hydrotherapy. We can increase the water depth to swim a dog in an underwater treadmill and we can use pods to walk a dog in a hydrotherapy pool. So this brings us back to “it’s a facility to aid movement”
Primarily a hydrotherapist uses their tools to:
Improve your dogs engagement with their natural balance and stance
Shape movement appropriately
Align your dog properly
Undertake dynamic exercise
Undertake static exercises
An Underwater Treadmill
Provides…
Ability to quickly control water height
The ability to walk and swim dogs
Ability to undertake dynamic & static handling
Compact space compatible treatment
The need for just one therapist
Can be limited in…
Therapists access to all areas of the dog
Ability to control humidity
Ability to control overstretch of the spine
The ability to vary rehabilitation techniques
A Hydrotherapy Pool
Provides…
A therapist with 360 degree control
Better control of humidity and temperature
Proprioceptively rich therapies
Ability to undertake dynamic & static handling
The ability to walk and swim dogs
Can be limited in…
Supporting nervous dogs
Provision for compact treatment centres
Single therapist treatment of paralysis conditions
How do you make the right choice
As you can see from above, both formats provide the ability to undertake extensive portfolios of dynamic and static handling techniques however ultimately the decision should come down to the Behaviour and Breed Standards of your animal – not the marketing ploys of hydrotherapy businesses.
So, in our opinion, choose a hydrotherapy centre with…
A Hydrotherapy Pool
If your dog:
Is a brachycephalic breed due to the humidity risks of a treadmill
Is nervous of enclosed environments due to the nature of a treadmill
Is an amputee as a dog losing balance in a treadmill could be catastrophic
Is a large breed that simple won’t comfortably fit in anything other than a pool
An Underwater Treadmill
If your dog:
Is nervous of large open environments due to the nature of a hydrotherapy pool
Is nervous of water as treadmills can be filled slowly
Has significant access issues due to the ability to enter and exit easily* or where second therapists are unavailable
This is of course not an exhaustive list that you as the owner or veterinary care professional might think of but these, in our opinion, are the primary reasons. Otherwise, it comes down to what therapist do you trust and how well do they know their equipment to help your dog.
*We caveat this point with a comment that you must make sure the UWTM has two doors, so that it doesn’t have to turn 180 degrees inside the treadmill to exit
The Canine Fitness Centre Facilities
We want to be clear that this is not a marketing piece around why we have a pool and why it could be seen as superior compared to an underwater treadmill. Hopefully this article has been informative to help you make the right decision for your dog.
At the Canine Fitness Centre we have chosen to have an 18ft by 9ft heated hydrotherapy poolbecause:
Our therapists can have a 360 degree view of your animal swimming, walking and standing
Dogs do not overstretch their necks and spine when looking at their owners due to the owners positioning
We have a much greater level of ‘up-time’ where the pool is not reliant on underwater mechanics
Our skilled therapists can supercharge proprioceptive treatments by combining aquatic walking & swimming
We can control the level of humidity in the room particularly in summer months
We focus on treating the dog and it’s needs rather than the capabilities and space of our equipment
We have access to multiple therapists so can provide support to dogs with access needs
Hydrotherapy pools are much better for therapist wellbeing due to the stances required in an UWTM
We will never accept a dog that we believe demonstrates behaviours that are only suitable for an underwater treadmill and will always refer you to one of our partner sites who have this facility if it will be the best thing for your dog.
Think this is biased? Watch the webinar and analysis from Barbara Houlding, a leading Hydrotherapist and Physiotherapist in the field. Barbara is a course leader for at K9HS and discusses many of the same views outlined above in her online webinar found here.
We’ve just announced our first training session and it’s limited to just 8 places – a Canine Massage Workshop!
This fantastic workshop will cover everything you need to know to feel confident to complete a full body massage on your dog to promote relaxation and bonding.
Regular home massage has been scientifically proven to help alleviate anxiety, prevent injury and is often used in the management of medical conditions such as arthritis in the older patient.
In this interactive workshop you will learn the art, skills and benefits of massaging your dog with our highly experienced and qualified veterinary physiotherapist, Leanne Turner.
There are just 8 places on this workshop to ensure plenty of space between animals and guided practical sessions.
Dog Guidelines:
Please note that 50% of this workshop is theory and 50% practical. So it is suitable for quiet dogs who do not bark and who are very comfortable being in close proximity to other human and dog company. Only one dog per person.
Theoretical areas covered include:
Anatomy of a dog
The benefits of massage and the effects on body systems
Signs of muscular injury, pain and discomfort
Practical areas include:
A guided session where you will learn to massage your own dog
A certificate for completing your dog massage workshop
At the Canine Fitness Centre we use our pool for a variety of water based exercises that go well beyond swimming. The purpose of Open Water Exercise is to incorporate a variety of exercises into a canine athlete or a companion dog’s conditioning program that use water to provide resistance, buoyancy, instability, challenge, and/or safety.
Senior dogs whose owners closely monitor their weight and keep them active and properly conditioned are shining examples of how growing older can be a healthy progression of life.
If you have been following our journey you’ll know that we’ve been planning to open an amazing secure dog exercise field in the heart of the South Downs. We believe our plans for our paddock will ensure we become host to one of the leading outdoor spaces for canine enrichment in the region.
Our secure site plans
Next to our centre is a 1 acre paddock which has been left to become an unruly meadow. It’s our plan to bring this back to life and serve the canine community with more than just a field to be let loose in:
A drive in and secure site where dogs can behave naturally – they can run, jump and dig freely
A 120ft x 120ft agility arena and working gun dog scurry training ground
A sensory area full of long grass, natural planting and enriching activities for young and geriatric dogs
A place where dogs undertaking rehabilitation programmes can safely undertake controlled exercise
Adventurous play areas to safely and securely climb, roll, jump, run, and be enriched
A privately bookable space for family dogs, social groups and training groups
For many animals this kind of exercise, stimulation and enrichment is not possible as due to their nature, health or owner abilities. You can find a sneak peak at what we’re planning at: www.caninefitness.co/paddock/
If you love this idea then please click here, search for SDNP/19/02142/FUL and comment in support!
We ask that you only comment if you live with 20 miles of Petersfield to ensure credibility of respondents | Comment by the 7th July
Doing this the right way
Since the start of our business, we’ve made the conscious decision to do the right thing, whether that’s choosing our marketing locations to avoid poaching clients from other centres or ensuring we have planning permission for our activities when no other dog park in the region has done so. Some call us crazy but we believe this is the right thing to do.
We submitted our application to the South Downs National Park authority on Friday 3rd May and we’re super excited that we have support from:
Hampshire County Council Highways Officer
Hampshire County Council Senior Ecologist
East Hampshire District Council Drainage Officer
East Hampshire District Council Principle Conservation Officer
A glitch in our journey
Unfortunately, the Froxfield and Privett Parish Council have made some assumptions which have lead to them objecting to the application. Their objection is primarily two-fold:
The creation of a small hard standing to avoid cars bedding in during winter months is Urban Sprawl
Speculation on behalf of our neighbours that dogs could be a nuisance
We hold hope that the East Hampshire District Council planning officer will take an objective approach to their decision making however the parish council have made some odd (in our opinion) recommendations of conditions which unless addressed would render significant problems for field users.
Briefly, we’ll address each of those points however:
The setting of some crushed stone, in keeping with that of countryside tracks, and used to prevent cars from being stuck in the mud during winter months, cannot be called Urban Sprawl so we are at a bit of a loss on this comment. We think what they mean by this is “first a carpark, next a warehouse” so they are pre-emptively assuming our landlords may build on the site not knowing that this wouldn’t be possible as there are significant amenities and soak-away structures under the field serving the business park we occupy.
The parish council call into question alignment to South Downs National Park Authority policy, although we read the policy and definitely comply:
The proposal is informed by the landscape character and is reflective of the landscape
Supported by the Conservation and Ecology Officers
Safeguards the paddock from physical development
Does not lie within a designed landscape
Does not impact the identity or integrity of settlements and the land lying between them
The parish council have failed to consider National Park policies CP6 and CP19 which favour applications such as this as they are focussed on promoting rural enterprise provided that they do not harm the character of the site or its surrounding areas. These policies go as far as recommending developments are permitted for:
Farm Diversification – We’re based on an ex-poultry farm diversifying into a business park
Country Pursuits – Exercising a dog is definitely one of these
For local people – Our catchment area is just 25 miles which is definitely local
Nuisance to neighbours
Remember what we said about doing things right, well here is an example of just deeply we’ve considered this proposal. We wanted to think about the noises of dogs barking and how this might affect the local residential and commercial neighbours. So rather than ignore it we undertook noise assessments. Here’s what we found should a dog bark:
Our nearest neighbour would hear the dog bark at between 5 and 10 dB less than minimum standard
Crows roosting in the nearby tree line were louder than a dog bark
Nearby horses, sheep, lorries and farm vehicles all have the potential to be louder than dogs
Given the parish council have notably deemed this research and survey as “appropriate” and offer no counter evidence or research we thought we’d ask our neighbours what they thought. They were all sent a letter and some of them we even visited in person – have any of them demonstrated any concerns? Nope none at all.
That leads us to then consider the parish’s view that the proposed hours are excessive.
To consider this you need to know that we are part of a business park including light industrial and manufacturing businesses, and as far as we know this business park has no covenants controlling hours of operation except for the Canine Fitness Centre. The centre is limited to 2,600 hours per year operations and we’ve proposed that the paddock is available for 2,500 hours per year.
Now, reflect on that. Less hours, less dogs to be ‘a nuisance’, uncontrolled industrial processes but a paddock previously occupied by horses to be used by dogs is to be considered excessive? This doesn’t stack up.
Full disclosure: You can read the full response from the Parish Council on the South Downs National Park website at http://planningpublicaccess.southdowns.gov.uk and searching SDNP/19/02142/FUL
Conditional Recommendations
As you can see, the parish council have made some broad ranging speculations around a secure exercise field, that’s their prerogative, what we do object to is using these assumptions to form conditions that put at risk animal welfare and damage the rural economy.
Some of the conditions we’ve self recommended but below are a couple that stand out as being a concern for us and our clients:
C. That the consent be temporary with a maximum of three years
There’s no significant monetary value in this paddock, it will probably break even with running costs, but it is going to cost in excess of £5,000 to establish. We are honestly doing this to benefit our clients and the local rural communities in need of a secure professional dog training and exercise environment. Any business in these economically unstable times, whether encouraged by planning policy to deliver farm diversification, is not rightly going to put at risk their money when consent could be withdrawn on arbitrary grounds after 3 years – that’s crazy! This is actually counter to Government Guidance, East Hampshire District Council strategy and contrary to the South Downs National Park policy.
D. To control use of the facility by time and day
The parish council want us to NOT use the paddock after 18.00 and be limited to 13.00 on a Saturday. In the winter the 18:00 aspect might be practical due to natural light levels and seasonality however we find this suggestion absolutely terrifying when you think of the summer, in short the parish council want field users to:
Only exercise their dog in the hottest period of the day
Not be able to access the field after a normal days work
Be closed for 75% of the weekend when the site is most needed
There is absolutely no credible justification for this recommendation which could put animals lives at risk if the paddock is the only viable option for exercise for them. There is a high likelihood of owners breaching RSPCA guidance and potentially the Animal Welfare act if we irresponsibly opened at these recommended timings.
If you love our ideas but think these conditions are out of this world thinking then please please click here, search for SDNP/19/02142/FUL and help the planning officer understand the potential risks.
We ask that you only comment if you live with 20 miles of Petersfield to ensure credibility of respondents | Comment by the 7th July
We think dogs deserve better, and we hope that the planning officers on the 9th July will be objective in their decision making, taking onboard all of the comments and not penalise us for getting consent and doing this properly.
We love where we are based and we think this is a high demand facility but would love your support in ensuring East Hampshire District Council planning officers know how supported it is and how crazy the parish council conditions are.
Responses need to be received by the district council no later than the 7th July 2019.
Warming up and cooling down are essential elements of exercise/competition.
Effective warm-up ensures your dog is able to carry out the task at hand with a reduced risk of injury, better technique and is likely to perform much better. Appropriate cool-down allows gradual reduction in cardiovascular activity to optimise post exercise comfort and tissue conditioning.
We tailor our own home environments to make living and daily tasks as easy and as comfortable as possible. But do we consider the impact of this environment on our pets?
For our pets, the difficulty of walking from one room to another or eating a meal can vary greatly depending on the environmental factors at play.
